Free of graft and technically skilled: the qualities Xi seeks in new PLA generals
The elevation of nearly two dozens officers suggests President Xi Jinping wants a military leadership free of graft and technically skilled, analysts say
The latest round of promotions in the People's Liberation Army suggests President Xi Jinping is seeking to groom a new generation of military leaders who are better trained and free of corruption, analysts say.
In the past week, Xi has promoted nearly two dozen officers to the rank of lieutenant general. They are relatively young, with several having trained with the Russian military, according to the People's Liberation Army Daily and other official sources.
A few of the officers gained combat experience during the border war with Vietnam in the late 1970s.
The latest promotions were announced yesterday - two officers with the provincial area command of Sichuan and two from Tibet's.
We hope the promotion system will be made more fair
The commander for Tibet, Xu Yong, and his colleague, political commissar Diao Guoxin, gained experience in the border conflict with Vietnam in Yunnan .
At age 55, Xu is one of the younger officers to be elevated. He was the first PLA major general to lead a relief force to Wenchuan following the massive earthquake that struck Sichuan in 2008, killing 87,000 people.